The Standard of Living

by Amartya Sen , Edited by Geoffrey Hawthorn

• ISBN13: 9780521368407
• ISBN10: 0521368405
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1989-01-27
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Amartya Sen reconsiders the idea of 'the standard of living'. He rejects the more conventional economic interpretations in terms of 'unity' and of wealth or 'opulence', and suggests an interpretation in terms of the 'capabilities and freedoms' that states of affairs do or do not allow. His argument is conceptual, but it refers to a wide range of examples. In elaborations of it, John Muellbauer explains how parts of it might be applied; Ravi Kanbur discusses the difficulties raised by choice ex ante, under uncertainty, and choice ex post; Keith Hart discusses the ways in which one might think about living standards in societies in which there is a substantial amount of what he calls 'self provisioning' outside the market; and Bernard Williams reflects on some of the moral and political implications of Sen's argument. There is a bibliography of most of the more important works on the subject. The book will be of interest to economists, sociologists, students of development and moral and political philosophers; it will also be of interest to those concerned with public policy.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	vi
Introduction	vii
Geoffrey Hawthorn
The Standard of Living: Lecture I, Concepts and Critiques	1	(19)
Amartya Sen
The Standard of Living: Lecture II, Lives and Capabilities	20	(19)
Amartya Sen
Professor Sen on the Standard of Living	39	(20)
John Muellbauer
The Standard of Living: Uncertainty, Inequality and Opportunity	59	(11)
Ravi Kanbur
Commoditisation and the Standard of Living	70	(24)
Keith Hart
The Standard of Living: Interests and Capabilities	94	(9)
Bernard Williams
Reply	103	(10)
Amartya Sen
Bibliography	113	(10)
Index	123